Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 October 2014
157. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if Irish Water has taken all necessary steps to ensure that every digit on the meters can be read by a homeowner and that none are obscured; if the obstruction of lower numbers on a meter is commonplace; if so, the measure he proposes to ensure that a full meter reading can be taken by homeowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39486/14]
View answerSince 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the rollout of the domestic water metering programme. Irish Water has confirmed that there are two types of meters being installed as part of this programme. These were selected as part of an open procurement process for the supply of water meters. Both meter types are widely used internationally. The meters comply with all required standards including the EU Measuring Instruments Directive (EU MID 2004/22/EC). Both meters are mechanical with an analogue display. Each water meter has a low power radio unit fixed to the top which sends a data signal that can be read periodically from a passing van. This is what is known as automatic meter reading or AMR. The data sent from the radio is encrypted and then stored securely on our computer systems.
Irish Water has assured my Department that customers can easily read their own meters in order to familiarise themselves with their water consumption. On all meters installed by Irish Water, customers can see a combination of black and red digits. The black dials record cubic metres of water and the red dials (from left to right) record 100’s litres, 10’s of litres and litres. 1 cubic metre is equivalent to 1,000 litres. On one type of meter being installed, the last of the three red dials, showing 10s of litres, is slightly obscured by the Automatic Meter Reader (AMR) unit. However, this will not hinder people’s ability to get an accurate meter reading to the nearest 10’s of litres. Customers will be provided with their meter reading as part of the billing process. Information on Irish Water meters, with a graphic showing the meter, is available at www.water.ie.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 278 278.
